Week 15 waiver wire

Tony Fortier-Bensen

Tight ends like Trey Burton made a lot of noise this week, but RBs and WRs like Theo Riddick, Rod Smith, Mike Davis, Peyton Barber, Kendall Wright and Dede Westbrook, are still filling up the majority of our Week 15 waiver wire report.

Week 15 D/ST rankings

Matt Lutovsky

The top of our Week 15 fantasy defense rankings features the usual suspects, but the bottom half of the "starting tier" is made up of potential waiver wire pickups. Check out the full list ahead of your fantasy football playoff start 'em, sit 'em decisions.

Week 15 RB rankings

Player Updates

Nicolas Batum (-F)

Batum (elbow) will start at shooting guard for Wednesday's matchup with the Rockets, Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports.

Batum was held out of Monday's contest with some lingering elbow soreness, but will rejoin the lineup Wednesday and take on his normal starter's role. The Hornets aren't reporting any restrictions, so as long as Batum doesn't suffer any in-game setbacks, he should be good for a full workload. -- Rotowire.com

Marcus Mariota (Ten-QB)

Mariota (knee) was a full participant at Wednesday's practice, but his hamstring ailment from earlier this season is still having an impact, and his fibula fracture from last year may require a clean-up procedure at the end of the campaign, according to freelance NFL reporter Paul Kuharsky.

Mariota finds himself on the injury report for Week 15 in San Francisco with a minor injury in the same left knee that he's worn a brace on ever since suffered a second MCL injury in 2015 (the first occurred in 2013 at Oregon). While it doesn't seem that any of these lingering leg injuries poses a threat to his availability, they might help to explain why Mariota has taken a clear step back in his third professional season. -- Rotowire.com

Anthony Davis (-F)

Davis (groin) will get the start in Wednesday's matchup with the Bucks, Will Guillory of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

After missing the four of the past six games with a groin injury, Davis will get the start against Milwaukee. Davis has averaged 35.0 minutes per game this season, and his return will likely cause Dante Cunnigham and Darius Miller's minutes to decrease. -- Rotowire.com

Adrian Peterson (-RB)

Peterson will undergo weekly scans on his neck, which will guide the Cardinals' decision-making process with the veteran running back, Josina Anderson of ESPN reports.

Backing up head coach Bruce Arians' assertions that Peterson doesn't have a timetable for a return, the RB has been advised to rest for the time being. Hence the reason for no practice reps since injuring his neck against the Jaguars in Week 12. The aforementioned scans will monitor any progress made in the coming weeks, and if the Cardinals are able to stay the playoff picture, the team will make a decision based on where Peterson stands, health-wise. -- Rotowire.com